BJP to jail politicians ‘who usurped Delhi’s funds’

Moazum Mohammad
Srinagar: The BJP announced Sunday that it would send to jail the “politicians from J&K who filled their coffers” with New Delhi’s funds.
“The people in the power here have been dishonest and corrupt. They have filled their coffers with the money from the Centre. There will be no compromise on corruption. If anyone has looted public money, law will take its own course,” BJP’s national vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told reporters here.
“Those people who are involved in corruption and scams will not be able to visit London or the US after the elections but will find themselves in jails. They will be held accountable,” Naqvi said.
Asked about Article 370, Naqvi said it was not a religious script which can’t be discussed, and accused Kashmir-based parties of resorting to loot and corruption under the garb of the article which accords ‘special status’ to J&K.
“The issue of Article 370 is being raised only by those who have looted the state. They are using Article 370 as a security cover for their corruption and loot,” Naqvi said.
He said the BJP was not for abrogation of Article 370. “We never said we are going to abrogate Article 370…we want discussion on the issue and discussions can happen on any issue. We are a democratic and an open country. It (Article 370) is not a religious script which can’t be discussed,” he said.
“The ongoing state Assembly election is different from the earlier ones. The atmosphere and mood of the people has changed. People have decided to vote on the issues of security, development, prosperity and good governance. Some political parties like NC, PDP and Congress are trying to befool the people by raising non-issues….the issues which have expired and which the people have rejected,” he added.
He said the parties, which are using secularism card to garner votes, were “suffering from depression.”
“The so-called upholders of secularism, for whom secularism is like political crutches and a way to seek votes, are suffering from depression. That is why they are raising the issues of dangers to secularism and Article 370. We have made it clear that this election will be fought on the issues of development, security and prosperity,” he added.
Naqvi claimed that his party was a guarantor for security, development and employment of youth in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Pakistan has been isolated as the light of development cannot be produced by the factory of terror. There is no light of development but of destruction coming out from such a factory. That is why it is our endeavor to see a secure Kashmir where its youth are full of employment avenues,” he said.
Later speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a rally in Homeshalibugh Assembly segment in Anantnag, Naqvi said the government of India has released Rs 700 crore only for Homeshalibugh during last few years.
“Before leaving for campaigning for our candidate from the constituency I confirmed from office about the amount released for this constituency in last few years. I was told that 700 crore rupees have been released so far but on ground there is no development at all. So tell me what happened to that money,” Naqvi said.—With Shabir Ahmad in Anantnag

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Launched in May 2012, Kashmir Reader is one of the leading English language newspapers of Jammu and Kashmir. It’s published daily from Srinagar by Helpline Group, which earned a name and fame in serious journalism